Boys basketball league rankings: New No. 1s in the LVC and Colonial

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER We're down to six big league nights of basketball left over the next 17 days, heading toward the final night of the regular season on Feb. 8. At this point, there are six teams in true contention for the four tournament spots in the LVC and seven with a legit shot for the four spots in the Colonial. In the MVC, realistically, it's five still alive for the final four. Here are the latest league rankings and note the change at the top in both the LVC and Colonial: LEHIGH VALLEY CONFERENCE 1. Central Catholic (6-2, 13-2) ... Last week, No. 4 ... Vikings have won nine in a row since those back-to-back losses to Allen and Emmaus in the week before Christmas. Play at Nazareth tonight. 2. Parkland (7-1,12-3) ... Last week, No. 1 ... Lost two of three last week, falling to Emmaus and Glasgow, Del., but didn't have Beidelman for most of the fourth quarter against Glasgow. Play at Becahi tonight. 3. Liberty (6-2, 9-5) ... Last week, No. 2 ... Deshawn Oyeniyi coming back definitely strengthened Hurricanes, who had lost five of seven at one point after a 5-0 start. Play at Emmaus tonight. 4. Easton (5-3, 11-4) .. Last week No. 6 ... Beat William Penn of Delaware, 47-43, on Monday night to snag fourth straight win. Play at Dieruff tonight. 5. Emmaus (6-2, 8-6) ... Last week, No. 3 ... Green Hornets are real tough at home, as Parkland was reminded last week. Enter the week tied with CCHS for first place in the LVC West. Host Liberty tonight. 6. Freedom (4-4, 8-6) ... Last week, No. 5 ... Patriots can't let tough Parkland loss completely derail their recent momentum. Host Whitehall tonight. 7. Whitehall (4-4, 8-7) ... Last week No. 8 ... Zephyrs have been on the district playoff bubble all season, and can now see a path to the postseason needing just three more wins. Play at Freedom tonight. 8. Allen (3-5, 7-8) ... Last week No. 7 ... Canaries have lost four in a row and five of six and have dropped out of contention for a league tournament berth. Should get back on track tonight at Northampton. 9. Nazareth (3-5, 7-7) ... Last week No. 10 ... Surprise win over Allen revived district playoff hopes for Blue Eagles, but the remaining schedule is very difficult with games against CCHS, Liberty, Easton, Parkland and Bangor still to come. Host CCHS tonight. 10. Bethlehem Catholic (2-6, 8-7) .. Last week No. 9 ... Golden Hawks are just like the three teams above, and clearly on the district playoff bubble. But they also have a very tough schedule yet to play with Parkland tonight, Emmaus on Friday, and their very difficult East division to play again, not to mention Hazleton in a nonleague game. 11. Dieruff (2-6, 5-10) ... Last week No. 11 ... After a three-game win streak provided some hope, the Huskies have dropped four straight, and frankly, won't be favored in another game the rest of the season. Host Easton tonight. 12. Northampton (0-8, 2-13) ... Last week No. 12 ... At least the K-Kids have been a little more competitive in recent games. Host Allen tonight. COLONIAL LEAGUE 1. Wilson (9-1, 15-1) ... Last week, No. 2 ... Warriors have won 13 straight. They don't blow teams out, but they have won with more frequency than other area team. Host Pen Argyl tonight. 2. Bangor (8-2, 10-4) ... Last week, No. 1 ... Missing about half of their team, the Slaters represented themselves well against Wilson on Friday night. Play at Southern Lehigh tonight. 3. Salisbury (7-3, 10-6) .. Last week, No. 4 ... Falcons have won five of six and all remaining games are in the league where even their losses have been close ones. Host Northern Lehigh tonight. 4. Northern Lehigh (6-4, 10-4) .. Last week, No. 3 ... Bulldogs remain capable of beating anyone in the league, and yet lose games that still catch us by surprise. Big one for them at Salisbury tonight. 5. Notre Dame (8-2, 9-7) ...Last week, No. 6 ... Crusaders had lost six of nine before reviving themselves with a big win over Bangor last week. Host Northwestern tomorrow night. 6. Catasauqua (6-4, 8-6) ... Last week, No. 5 ... Roughies need just one more league win to clinch district spot and could still sneak into league tournament if they can go 5-1 the rest of the way. For that purpose, consider tonight's game at Saucon a must-win. 7. Southern Lehigh (6-4, 8-7) ... Last week, No. 7 ... Spartans have more to do to get into districts, and the schedule is brutal starting with a visit from Bangor tonight. 8. Saucon Valley (4-6, 6-10) ... Last week, No. 9 ... Got a chance to see Panthers on Saturday and there's plenty of things to feel good about with this team after an 0-7 start. They went 0-5 against the South the first time around and that's where they are headed after hosting Catty tonight. 9. Palisades (3-7, 6-8) ... Last week, No. 8 ... The Pirates, believe it or not, still have a shot at the 11 wins overall needed to get into districts. They should get No. 7 tonight when Palmerton visits. 10. Northwestern (2-8, 5-11) ... Last week, No. 10 ... The Tigers have made vast strides this season. Remember, they won just three games last season and will more than double that before this season's through. Play at ND on Weds. night. 11. Pen Argyl (1-9, 4-10) ... Last week, No. 11 .. Green Knights have lost seven in a row and have broken 50 just once in that stretch which must be frustrating to coach Al Blount, who loves offensive basketball. Play at Wilson tonight. 12. Palmerton (0-10, 0-14) ... Last week, No. 12 ... Obviously, things look bleak now for the Blue Bombers, but younger kids provide hope for the future. Play at Palisades tonight. MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE 1. Pocono Mountain West (7-0, 12-2) ... Last week, No. 1 ... Panthers still have three games left against LVC teams. Host ES North tonight. 2. Stroudsburg (5-2, 8-6) ... Last week, No. 2 ... Like Pocono West, Mounties still have three LVC opponents remaining. Visit Lehighton tonight. 3. Pleasant Valley (4-3, 9-8) ... Last week, No. 3 ... Bears are 0-4 against the LVC this season. Host ES South tonight. 4. ES South (4-2, 8-7) ... Last week, No. 4 ... Cavaliers have done a real nice job in Shawn Munford's first season. Play at Pleasant Valley tonight. 5. Lehighton (3-4, 8-7) ... Last week, No. 5 ... Indians have won three straight and need three wins to qualify for districts. They're still going to have to beat one team they're not supposed to beat, but it's very doable. Host Stroudsburg tonight. 6. ES North (1-6, 3-13) ... Last week, No. 6 ... Timberwolves still have an opportunity to win some more games, but not tonight at PM West. 7. Pocono Mountain East (0-13, 0-7) ... Last week, No. 7 .. Have not scored more than 50 points in any game all season and they hit the half-century mark just once. Have tonight off, play Stroudsburg on Friday.